The Self, the Other and the Art of Living Together
The Central Idea
Ayurveda offers a profound vision of relationships: to see oneself in the other and the other in oneself.
Ātmavat satataṃ paśyed api kīṭa-pipīlikam — “Let one constantly see even the smallest creatures as oneself.”
Healthy relationships therefore begin not merely with understanding another person, but with understanding who we ourselves are. Ayurveda invites us to distinguish the deeper Self from Prakṛti, personality and social roles. We need our roles to live in the world, but we need not mistake those roles for our true identity.
The five sessions explore this journey from Self → Other → Relationship → Role → Integration.
SUNDAY 1: WHO AM I?
The Self Behind the Relationship
The Ayurvedic understanding of Puruṣa and Ātman
Body, mind, senses and consciousness
Prakṛti and individual differences
Identity and the sense of “I”
The Self and the personality
Why understanding oneself is the foundation of relationship
Central question: Who is the “I” that enters into a relationship?
SUNDAY 2: SEEING THE SELF IN THE OTHER
The Ayurvedic Foundation of Relationship
Ātmavat Satatam Paśyet
Seeing oneself in others
Loka–Puruṣa correspondence
Sarvalokam Ātmani — the Self in all and all in the Self
Empathy, compassion and connectedness
From “the other” to “another self”
Relationship as an expression of a deeper unity
Central question: What changes when I truly see myself in the other?
SUNDAY 3: THE SELF AND THE MASK
Prakṛti, Personality and the Roles We Play
Prakṛti as the framework of individuality
Personality, temperament and behaviour
The many roles we assume in life
Parent, child, spouse, friend, teacher, student and professional
The mask is necessary—but it is not the Self
Distinguishing identity from role
Learning to wear the mask without becoming the mask
Central question: Can I play my role completely without forgetting who I am?
SUNDAY 4: LOVE, ATTACHMENT AND CONFLICT
When We Confuse the Person with the Role
Attraction, attachment and aversion
Rāga and Dveṣa
Expectations and projections
Possessiveness and identification
Anger, disappointment and conflict
Seeing the person beyond the image we have created
Compassion and Sadvrtta
Transforming reaction into conscious response
Central question: Are we relating to the person—or to the image we have created of the person?
SUNDAY 5:LIVING IN THE WORLD WITHOUT LOSING THE SELF
Relationship as a Path of Growth
Knowing the Self
Knowing the mask
Performing one's role consciously
Svārtha and Parārtha
Compassion, responsibility and appropriate conduct
From individual well-being to collective well-being
Seeing the Self in all beings
Relationship as a path toward harmony and transformation
Central question: How can we live fully in the world without losing ourselves in our roles?
THE JOURNEY
Know the Self
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Recognise the Self in the Other
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Understand the Mask of Prakṛti
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Play the Roles Consciously
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Transcend Identification
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Live in Relationship with Awareness and Compassion
A concluding thought
We do not transcend relationships by abandoning them. We transcend their limitations by discovering the Self that is present in both the “I” and the “other.”
To Join
If you wish to join this event, please make a contribution to Sarvam Trust USA for the designated amount through the following link:
https://sarvamtrustusa.aurosociety.org/contribution/
After completing the payment, please share a screenshot with us of the transaction for confirmation.
Click here for more details.
Concessions will be considered on a discretionary basis
The Zoom joining details will be shared in the morning of 31st October
Recordings & summary notes will be shared after each session
For more information, contact:
E-mail: james@namahjournal.com
Phone: James +91 7094898789, (0413) 2226263